Yellowman – Mister Yellowman album art
Yellowman (like his contemporaries Eek-A-Mouse, Sister Nancy, Barrington Levy and many others) is a giant of the dancehall subgenre of reggae music. Dancehall differentiated itself from earlier “Roots” reggae through extensive use of programmed rhythms and heavy bass during the 1980s. Later Latin genres like reggaeton and dembow would develop directly as Dominican and Panamanian takes on the rhythms and call-and-response of dancehall .
Lyrical subject matter in dancehall is parallel to hip-hop sometimes, in that bragging and boasting are often used by DJs to entertain crowds, but like Roots reggae, it is often both melodic and even highly political (Yellowman, for one, goes from flashing wealth in “Dem Sight the Boss” to proclaiming his disdain for the military on “Soldier Take Over”).
Yellowman’s lyrics were famously shocking and controversial, talking about sexual escapades (in songs like “Mad Over Me”) in a way unprecedented in music. Despite discrimination against his albinism in his home country, he still managed to become one of the most successful artists of dancehall, signing to a major label and selling millions of records.
Dom Casual in its standard weight is the only face used on this entire album, both front and back.
On the back, Dom is used in different sizes.
